The Butler Collection
Brian Goodison-Blanks
Director. Head of Maritime & Sporting Department Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood
THE BUTLER COLLECTION
Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood are delighted to offer at auction on the 10th March a fascinating personal collection of furniture and works of art formed by Roderick and Valentine Butler at their home, Marwood House in Honiton.
Roderick joined his father Noel in the family antiques business in 1957 and met his future wife Valentine, who trained as a cabinet maker, when she came to work for the Butlers in 1969. They married in 1973 and bought Marwood House from Roderick’s mother. Over the subsequent years the business flourished and will continue to do so in the future at Marwood House. The bulk of items traded or kept were acquired largely in the West Country, testimony to the huge range of goods that was readily available in the pre-internet days and their private collection developed and grew out of this.
Over the years, several fascinating research projects and exhibitions were held at Marwood House and many of these exhibits are included in the forthcoming sale. Selling the collection through present day Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood marks a long and cordial relationship between the Butler family and the firm, indeed several pieces in the sale were bought from Bearnes in Torquay in the late 1950s, including the Fulford bed hangings, the George III standing corner cupboard and the Ramsay MacDonald Prime Ministerial seals. The sale of nearly 500 lots offers an extremely diverse range of objects with estimates ranging from ￡50 to ￡20,000. A fully illustrated catalogue will be available in mid February and viewing takes place at St. Edmunds Court on:
Friday 6th March (9.00am to 5.15pm)
Saturday 7th March (9.00am to 1.00pm)
Sunday 8th March (2.00pm to 4.00pm)
Monday 9th (9.00am to 5.15pm)
Tuesday 10th March (limited viewing)
Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood wish to emphasise that the sale will offer the private collection of the Butlers from Marwood House. However they are not moving home and the business will continue from the showrooms adjacent to the house.